Tag: Telenor

  • PTA reveals drop in mobile data users amid increasing complaints

    PTA reveals drop in mobile data users amid increasing complaints

    In November 2023, data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) indicates a decline in various telecom metrics and an increase in user complaints compared to October 2023.

    The total number of cellular subscribers saw a decrease from 189.77 million at the end of October to 189.26 million at the end of November. Additionally, 3G and 4G users in Pakistan decreased from 126.92 million to 126.24 million during the same period.

    Cellular teledensity witnessed a decline from 79.32 per cent in October to 78.98 per cent in November, contributing to the overall teledensity drop from 80.4 per cent to 80.06 per cent.

    Furthermore, Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) penetration decreased from 53.05 per cent to 52.68 per cent.

    Provider-specific data reveals a decline in Jazz’s 3G users from 3.731 million to 3.569 million and 4G users from 43.172 million to 42.754 million between October and November.

    Zong experienced a decrease in 3G subscribers but an increase in 4G users. Telenor observed a decline in both 3G and 4G users, while Ufone’s 3G users decreased but 4G users increased.

    User complaints against telecom operators surged in November, with the PTA receiving 14,471 complaints. Notably, 98.9 per cent of these complaints were successfully resolved.

    The complaints spanned various telecom operators, including cellular mobile operators (CMOs), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), long-distance international (LDI) operators, wireless local loop (WLL) operators, and internet service providers (ISPs).

    Cellular mobile subscribers constituted the majority of complaints, reaching 13,857, of which 99.1 per cent were addressed. Jazz, Telenor, Zong, and Ufone faced specific complaints, with resolution rates ranging from 98.2 to 99.7 per cent.

    Complaints against basic telephony and ISPs were also received, with resolution rates of 93.2 per cent and 95.2 per cent, respectively.

  • ‘We do not comment on rumours,’ Telenor Pakistan responds to reports suggesting that the company is being sold for $1 billion

    ‘We do not comment on rumours,’ Telenor Pakistan responds to reports suggesting that the company is being sold for $1 billion

    Multiple online news outlets reported that Telenor, a telecom operator, intended to sell its business in Pakistan for $1 billion, which ignited a debate on social media.

    There is a lot of uncertainty about the authenticity of this news since a few Telenor employees have also denied the reports and asserted that they are fake.

    The company has yet to make an official announcement in this regard, with the exception of responding to a Twitter user’s question who asked whether these reports are legit. “We do not comment on speculations and rumours,” Telenor replied. 

    According to Bloomberg, Telenor is moving forward with plans to sell its business in Pakistan, which might be worth $1 billion, according to people familiar with the situation.

    The Norwegian telecommunications operator is working with Citigroup Inc. and will welcome first-round bids for the firm later this month, according to insiders.

    Telenor announced in July that it would conduct a strategic assessment of its Pakistan unit after incurring a 2.5 billion-krone ($244 million) loss on operations in the growing market.

    The people predict that strategic customers with operations in Pakistan from the Middle East and Asia will express interest. They stated that there is no assurance that the ongoing discussions would result in a transaction. Telenor and Citigroup representatives declined to comment.

    Telenor’s stock increased as much as 2.4 per cent on Wednesday. The company’s market worth increased to $13 billion as the stock rose 1.8 per cent in Oslo.

    In October, Telenor said that the third quarter’s underlying profitability in Pakistan decreased by 22 per cent, in part as a result of the nation’s growing energy costs. This had a negative effect, but it was partially offset by a gain from Pakistan’s repeal of a SIM tax.

    One of Telenor’s four Asian countries, Pakistan, saw a gain of 600 million crowns ($57.79 million), which was related to a court ruling on the applicability of tax on SIM cards for mobile phones from 2014 to 2020.

    In recent years, Telenor, which serves 175 million users across eight countries in the Nordic region and Asia, has worked to reduce expenses and increase cash flow in order to fund greater dividends and 5G expenditures. The company’s greatest efforts to date have involved attempts to consolidate markets in South-East Asia, including a $8.6 billion acquisition in Thailand and a $15 billion merger to create a telecoms leader in Malaysia.

    Telenor Asia, which also manages the company’s operations in Pakistan and Bangladesh, is in charge of both units.

    During the first three quarters of 2022, Telenor Pakistan’s income decreased by about 8 per cent in Norwegian Kroner terms but increased by 4 per cent in Pakistani Rupee terms, staying at NOK 3.390 billion (Rs82.57 billion) as opposed to NOK 4.270 billion (Rs79.36 billion) during the same period of 2021.

    In comparison to NKO 1.425 billion (Rs26.68 billion) during the same period last year, or in 2021, Telenor Pakistan reported total revenues of NOK 1.320 billion (Rs29.53 billion) during the third quarter of 2022. This represents a 7.5 per cent decline in NOK terms and a 10 per cent increase in rupee.

    Intense floods throughout the quarter had a negative impact on the Group’s business in Pakistan. Consumers’ purchasing power was impacted by the circumstance, which also resulted in network failures and raised prices.

  • Number of 3G, 4G users in Pakistan increases to 113.89 million

    Number of 3G, 4G users in Pakistan increases to 113.89 million

    The latest data from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reveals that the number of 3G and 4G users grew by 1.14 million from 112.75 million in April 2022 to 113.89 million in May 2022.

    Pakistan’s cellular subscriber base grew by 0.25 million to 193 million by the end of May 2022, up from 192.75 million at the end of April, according to Brecorder.

    By the end of May, cellular mobile teledensity had risen from 87.6 per cent to 87.67 per cent. By the end of May, the total teledensity had risen to 88.81 per cent, up from 88.74 per cent in April.

    The monthly penetration of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) at the end of April had risen to 51.73 per cent, up from 51.24 per cent.

    Network providers

    The total number of 3G users on Jazz fell from 6.222 million at the end of April to 6.068 million at the end of May, a reduction of 0.154 million. By the end of May, the number of Jazz 4G users had risen from 36.567 million to 37.168 million.

    Zong 3G subscribers fell from 3.357 million at the end of April to 3.272 million at the end of May, while 4G users grew from 27.952 million at the end of April to 28.317 million at the end of May.

    Telenor 3G subscribers fell from 3.696 million at the end of April to 3.613 million at the end of May, whereas Telenor 4G users enhanced from 21.216 million at the end of April to 21.494 million at the end of May.

    By the end of May, there were 3.576 million Ufone 3G users, up from 3.673 million at the end of April. Ufone’s 4G users increased from 8.761 million at the end of April to 9.052 million at the end of May, a 0.291 million increase over the previous month.

  • Pakistan is finalising policy guidelines to launch 5G

    Pakistan is finalising policy guidelines to launch 5G

    The government intends to introduce 5G across the country, despite the fact that widespread 4G coverage is viewed as a major requirement before its launch. Also, 5G services can be offered in locations where 4G services are already available.

    Although all telcos in Pakistan have switched to 4G or LTE networks, a few companies are still unable to provide stable connectivity in a number of locations. Also, network providers frequently fail to deliver an acceptable, 4G standard connection speed despite hefty mobile data charges.

    To meet license requirements for the 5G network, cellular operators are forced to extend 4G coverage.

    According to Brecorder, the government of Pakistan is intending to introduce 5G in the country, according to official documents, and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MOIT&T) is in the phase of finalising policies for 5G in consultation with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and relevant authorities.

    The former administration intended to offer 5G services in the country in the first quarter of 2023. Unfortunately, no consulting assistance has been utilised for this purpose thus far. The reports also revealed that the PTA spent no expenses as no consultancy services had been obtained for its deployment.

    The MOIT&T has analysed seven bands for the implementation of 5G services. As per official documents, the government is currently reviewing the possibilities available for the prompt deployment of 5G services in the ccountry.

    The following bands are being considered for 5G service adoption as low, mid and high bands:

    700 MHz; 2.3 GHz; 2.6 GHz; 3.5 GHz; MiIIimeter wavebands; C-Band (3.6-4.2) GHz; and Unlicensed Backhaul Frequency bands (P2P & P2MP).

    In light of these bands, the ministry has requested that the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) share the present status and availability of all 5G spectrum in the above-mentioned frequency bands.

    Network providers are actively extending their infrastructures. Pakistan presently has 90 per cent teledensity and 89 per cent mobile penetration. The total number of cellphone consumers is 193.4 million. These figures are steadily rising. According to license terms, all CMOs are working to expand 4G coverage nationally.

    Approximately 60 per cent of the populace has access to 4G coverage. New rollout criteria have been imposed on operator licenses in order to accelerate 4G implementation in Pakistan.

    Furthermore, population-based rollout obligations are being implemented in order to give 4G coverage to the greatest number of Pakistanis.

  • Broadband subscriptions reach 100 million in Pakistan: PTA

    Broadband subscriptions reach 100 million in Pakistan: PTA

    The broadband services have reached 100 million (10 crore) people in Pakistan, tweeted Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

    In 2012, only two million people had subscribed to internet services, but after the introduction of 3G services, the figures jumped to 16 million in 2014.

    Moreover, the average downloading speed and upload speed provided by broadband providers are 17.7/ 11.3Mbps. The internet speed is above the levels in comparison to other regional countries.

    Mobile data prices are also affordable in Pakistan. According to the recent figures, mobile data prices declined to 0.70 per cent, which is well below the UN Broadband Commission’s recommendation of less than two per cent.

    All four national cellular mobile operators (CMOS), fixed-line broadband operators, including Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) have collectively crossed 100m subscriptions, due to the higher growth rate in data usage.

    Pakistan’s telecom sector has achieved many milestones previously also such as reaching 100 million mobile subscriptions in 2010, the introduction of the first-ever biometrically verified SIMs across the country in 2009 and implementation of the world’s first open-source Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in 2019.

    The PTA lauded the users and service providers for achieving this landmark and announced that crossing the 100 million benchmark would be formally celebrated soon with all the stakeholders and national and international telecom community.